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Stranded with a flat battery? Here's how to use a mobile charging device

<b>HANDY DEVICE:</b> A mobile battery-charging device, such as the one pictured here, could save you having to replace your car battery. <i>Image: News24</i>
<b>HANDY DEVICE:</b> A mobile battery-charging device, such as the one pictured here, could save you having to replace your car battery. <i>Image: News24</i>

Cape Town - Has your battery run flat because you've accidentally left the lights on? Perhaps it's reached the end of its life and needs a bit of a boost? Being stranded with a flat battery can happen to any motorist.

Fortunately, you don't always have to rely on a combination of jumper cables and an accommodating friend/colleague, nor do you necessarily need to replace the unit.  

Automobile specialist Paul Kasker shows us how to use an Optimate battery charger, one of many available on the market. This device provides your car battery with correct amount of charge.

Here's how to use the Optimate battery charger in 5 easy steps:

1 Once plugged into a socket, the charger will activate and display green light. This indicates that the device is ready to connect to the battery terminals.
2 Connect the red (positive) cable to the positive terminal of the battery (or red one).
3 Connect the black (negative) cable to the black/negative side of the battery.
4 Several lights will display on the unit. The orange light indicates the battery is charging while the blue flashing light above shows how much charge is transferring to your battery.
5 When the light indicates that battery is fully charged, switch off the charger at the plug source and carefully remove the positive and negative terminals from the battery.


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